Panasonic S1R vs Sony A7R III

The Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R and the Sony Alpha A7R III are two enthusiast cameras that were announced, respectively,
in February 2019 and October 2017. Both the S1R and the A7R III are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are equipped with a full frame sensor. The Panasonic has a resolution of 46.7 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 42.2 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R and the
Sony Alpha A7R III? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors,
their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison: Panasonic S1R vs Sony A7R III

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Panasonic S1R and the Sony A7R III. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size,
the Sony A7R III is notably smaller (26 percent) than the Panasonic S1R. Moreover, the A7R III is substantially lighter (36 percent) than the S1R. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses
that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses
in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

Concerning battery life, the S1R gets 380 shots out of its DMW-BLJ31 battery,
while the A7R III can take 650 images on a single charge of its NP-FZ100 power pack. The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, just use the right or left
arrows in the table to switch to the respective camera. Alternatively, you can also navigate to the CAM-parator app and
make your selection from the full list of cameras there.

Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The A7R III was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 14 percent) than the S1R, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison: Panasonic S1R vs Sony A7R III

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a full frame sensor, but their sensors
differ slightly in size. They nevertheless have the same format factor of 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

With 46.7MP, the S1R offers a higher
resolution than the A7R III (42.2MP), but the S1R has smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of
4.30μm versus 4.52μm for the A7R III). However, the S1R is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 3 months) than the A7R III, and its sensor
might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The A7R III has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

Both cameras have the capacity to capture high quality composite images by combining multiple shots after shifting the sensor by miniscule distances. This multi-shot, pixel-shift mode is most suitable for photography of stationary objects (landscapes, studio scenes).

The Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 50-51200.
The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Alpha A7R III are ISO 100 to ISO 32000, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-102400.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

Camera Model

Sensor Class

Resolution (MP)

Horiz. Pixels

Vert. Pixels

Video Format

DXO Portrait

DXO Landscape

DXO Sports

DXO Overall

Camera Model

Panasonic S1R»

Full Frame

46.7

8368

5584

4K/60p

26.4

14.1

3525

100

Panasonic S1R

Sony A7R III«

Full Frame

42.2

7952

5304

4K/30p

26.0

14.7

3523

100

Sony A7R III

Canon 6D Mark II«»

Full Frame

26.0

6240

4160

1080/60p

24.4

11.9

2862

85

Canon 6D Mark II

Nikon Z6«»

Full Frame

24.3

6048

4024

4K/30p

25.3

14.3

3299

95

Nikon Z6

Nikon Z7«»

Full Frame

45.4

8256

5504

4K/30p

26.3

14.6

2668

99

Nikon Z7

Panasonic S1«»

Full Frame

24.0

6000

4000

4K/60p

25.2

14.5

3333

95

Panasonic S1

Panasonic GH5«»

Four Thirds

20.2

5184

3888

4K/60p

23.9

13.0

807

77

Panasonic GH5

Pentax K-1 II«»

Full Frame

36.2

7360

4912

1080/60i

-

-

-

-

Pentax K-1 II

Pentax K-1«»

Full Frame

36.2

7360

4912

1080/60i

25.4

14.6

3280

96

Pentax K-1

Sony A7 III«»

Full Frame

24.0

6000

4000

4K/30p

25.0

14.7

3730

96

Sony A7 III

Sony A9«»

Full Frame

24.0

6000

4000

4K/30p

24.9

13.3

3517

92

Sony A9

Sony A99 II«»

Full Frame

42.2

7952

5304

4K/30p

25.4

13.4

2317

92

Sony A99 II

Sony A7R II«»

Full Frame

42.2

7952

5304

4K/30p

26.0

13.9

3434

98

Sony A7R II

Sony A7S II«»

Full Frame

12.0

4240

2832

4K/30p

23.6

13.3

2993

85

Sony A7S II

Sony A850«»

Full Frame

24.4

6048

4032

-

23.8

12.2

1415

79

Sony A850

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the S1R provides a higher frame rate than the A7R III. It can shoot video footage at 4K/60p, while the Sony is limited to 4K/30p.

Feature comparison: Panasonic S1R vs Sony A7R III

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The two cameras under consideration are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder.
However, the one in the S1R offers a substantially higher resolution than the one in the A7R III (5760k vs 3686k dots). The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Panasonic S1R and Sony A7R III in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

Core Features

Camera Model

Viewfinder (Type or '000 dots)

Control Panel (yes/no)

LCD Size (inch)

LCD Resolution ('000 dots)

LCD Attach- ment

Touch Screen (yes/no)

Mech Shutter Speed

Shutter Flaps (1/sec)

Built-in Flash (yes/no)

Built-in Image Stab

Camera Model

Panasonic S1R»

5760

Y

3.2

2100

full-flex

Y

1/8000s

9.0

n

Y

Panasonic S1R

Sony A7R III«

3686

n

3.0

1440

tilting

Y

1/8000s

10.0

n

Y

Sony A7R III

Canon 6D Mark II«»

optical

Y

3.0

1040

swivel

Y

1/4000s

6.5

n

n

Canon 6D Mark II

Nikon Z6«»

3690

Y

3.2

2100

tilting

Y

1/8000s

12.0

n

Y

Nikon Z6

Nikon Z7«»

3690

Y

3.2

2100

tilting

Y

1/8000s

9.0

n

Y

Nikon Z7

Panasonic S1«»

5760

Y

3.2

2100

full-flex

Y

1/8000s

9.0

n

Y

Panasonic S1

Panasonic GH5«»

3680

n

3.2

1620

swivel

Y

1/8000s

12.0

n

Y

Panasonic GH5

Pentax K-1 II«»

optical

Y

3.2

1037

full-flex

n

1/8000s

4.4

n

Y

Pentax K-1 II

Pentax K-1«»

optical

Y

3.2

1037

full-flex

n

1/8000s

4.4

n

Y

Pentax K-1

Sony A7 III«»

2359

n

3.0

922

tilting

Y

1/8000s

10.0

n

Y

Sony A7 III

Sony A9«»

3686

n

3.0

1440

tilting

Y

1/8000s

20.0

n

Y

Sony A9

Sony A99 II«»

2400

Y

3.0

1229

full-flex

n

1/8000s

12.0

n

Y

Sony A99 II

Sony A7R II«»

2400

n

3.0

1229

tilting

n

1/8000s

5.0

n

Y

Sony A7R II

Sony A7S II«»

2400

n

3.0

1229

tilting

n

1/8000s

5.0

n

Y

Sony A7S II

Sony A850«»

optical

Y

3.0

922

fixed

n

1/8000s

3.0

n

Y

Sony A850

One feature that is present on the S1R, but is missing on the A7R III is a top-level LCD.
While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while
others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, both cameras under consideration feature
an electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or
shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Sony A7R III has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to
capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The S1R writes its imaging data to SDHC or XQD cards, while the A7R III uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. Both cameras feature dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. However, while the S1R supports UHS-II cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s) on both slots, the A7R III
supports UHS-II only on its first slot and UHS-I (data transfer speed up to 104 MB/s) on the second one.

Connectivity comparison: Panasonic S1R vs Sony A7R III

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R and Sony Alpha A7R III and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

Camera Model

Hotshoe Port

Internal Microphone

Internal Speaker

Microphone Port

Headphone Port

HDMI Port

USB Type

WiFi Support

NFC Support

Bluetooth Support

Camera Model

Panasonic S1R»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

full

3.1

Y

-

Y

Panasonic S1R

Sony A7R III«

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

3.1

Y

Y

Y

Sony A7R III

Canon 6D Mark II«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Canon 6D Mark II

Nikon Z6«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

3.1

Y

-

Y

Nikon Z6

Nikon Z7«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

3.1

Y

-

Y

Nikon Z7

Panasonic S1«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

full

3.1

Y

-

Y

Panasonic S1

Panasonic GH5«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

full

3.1

Y

-

Y

Panasonic GH5

Pentax K-1 II«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

2.0

Y

-

-

Pentax K-1 II

Pentax K-1«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

2.0

Y

-

-

Pentax K-1

Sony A7 III«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

3.1

Y

Y

Y

Sony A7 III

Sony A9«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Sony A9

Sony A99 II«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Sony A99 II

Sony A7R II«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Sony A7R II

Sony A7S II«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Sony A7S II

Sony A850«»

Y

-

-

-

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Sony A850

Both cameras feature a PC Sync terminal to control professional strobe lights, which will be appreciated by studio photographers.

Both the S1R and the A7R III are recent models that are part of the current product line-up. The A7R III replaced the earlier Sony A7R II, while the S1R does not have a direct predecessor. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official
Panasonic and Sony websites.

Review summary: Panasonic S1R vs Sony A7R III

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Panasonic S1R and the Sony A7R III? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

More affordable: Was released into a lower priced segment (14 percent cheaper at launch).

More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in October 2017).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the match-up finishes in a tie (9 points each). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges
from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera
is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

S1R 09:09 A7R III

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Panasonic S1R and the Sony A7R III place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest
Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the S1R or the A7R III perform in practice. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews: Panasonic S1R vs Sony A7R III

This is where reviews by experts come in. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge,
reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.